Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

Slate Slashes "Notes from the Underbelly" and the Hipster Babblers It Represents

Strollerderby — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:11:53 GMT

Slate is joining the "Notes from the Underbelly" television show pile-on that began a few days ago here

Interview with James Poniewozik, Time Magazine Reporter: "Hipster Parents" WANT Him to Judge Them

Strollerderby — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:17:30 GMT

James Poniewozik, author of the much Babbled about "Too Cool for Preschool" piece in this week's Time Magazine, kindly agreed to answer some of our questions about his problem with hip parent bloggers and writers. STROLLER DERBY: You seem concerned that

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

CreativeTypeDad1 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:54:15 GMT

Funny, when I first heard of Dr. Spock, i thought it was the dude from Star Trek that wrote a book about raising kids.

As for Time, I wouldn't take them seriously. Remember who was 'person of the year' - you.

Time Magazine's Hipster Parenting Article: The Blogosphere Reacts

Strollerderby — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:04:21 GMT

First, I know, I used the word "blogosphere." I apologize. Second, in case you haven't heard, James Poniewozick

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

Michelle — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:34:55 GMT

While I certainly think that we are a somewhat anxiety-ridden and judgmental generation when it comes to parenting (Mommywars anyone?), I find it laughable that a BabyBoomer, part of the ME generation, is implying that GenX is particularly narcissistic.

And frankly the term "hipster" as applied to parenting has become a word that has lost all meaning as it has been co-opted as another marketing tool and manufactured trend. Really, what the hell is a hipster parent anyway, and why do we even need to apply the label as something desirable or undesirable to which one should (or should not) aspire? I'm with Jah in endorsing the idea of "you keep doing what you doing." Can we just remove the label altogether and talk about what interests us as parents (and people?)

Time Magazine's Hipster Parenting Article: The Blogosphere Reacts

Strollerderby — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:53:56 GMT

First, I know, I used the word "blogosphere." I apologize. Second, in case you haven't heard, James Poniewozick

Beyond belief

laurie gigliotti — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:53:51 GMT

is this a satire or are you people serious? All of you "alternaparents" or whatever you want to be called need to grow up and quit imposing your own quirky! original! musical and fashion tastes on your poor kids. Read them a real book, take off the Ramones tshirts, and cut their hair. and yours too, while you're at it.

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

LushMommy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:50:08 GMT

I agree with Jah.

WE KNOW what we are doing. Poniewozik doesn't.

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

Jah RastaYid — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:55:30 GMT

Jah stop chasing rats around kitchen for a moment.

Eye and I wonder why you all so worked up? If you as secure in your role as parent as you say, then why you give a bucket of hipster-poop about what this guy say? What, you worried what others might think about you? Sheesh mon, that be too pathetic. Parents in 1950s berated for not being American enough. Parents in 60s for not being middle-class enough. Parents in 70s for being too laid back. In 80s for listening to Bon Jovi. It just go on and on. Like Toots sing, "Pressures gonna drop on you." So what. If you really hip, cool, urban, whatever, you keep doing what you doing. Not whining about how "The Media" be dissin' you.

Jah also wonder why everyone down on Dr. Spock? He first to say that parents know best what their kids need, so follow your instincts. That don't sound so bad to Jah.

Jah

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

evaB — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:40:30 GMT

Wait, Baby Gap is cool??

Crank Mama » Blog Archive » We’re Here, We’re Hip. Get Used to It

Crank Mama » Blog Archive » We’re Here, We’re Hip. Get Used to It — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:24:59 GMT

PingBack from http://www.crankmama.com/2007/02/11/were-here-were-hip-get-used-to-it/

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

Peter — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 08:41:07 GMT

Here's what I wrote about this on my own blog. Take that, mainstream media!

Some dude at Time.com is ragging on parent bloggers for being narcissists with a skewed sense of priorities, more interested in making our offspring cool, and thereby remaining (or in my case, becoming) cool through their reflected hipness. Now I proudly admit to being anarcissist, and an especially compelling, fascinating one at that, but otherwise, I think the article misses the mark.

I like to write online about what's going on in my life, for my own amusement and for the entertainment of anyone who clicks on by. And what's going on in my life now is parenting. I don't write about the Lads in place of spending time with them; I write about them because I devote so much of myself to them. I find my sons endlessly amazing and amusing, and I'm just bursting with joy at their very existence. This is just an outlet for that. There's a certain element of navel-gazing in blogging, but for now, I'm gazing at the Lads' navels -- and as any parent of two-year-olds knows, there's nothing more interesting than a belly button.

"Hipster" - A Dirty Word Now and Then. But Why?

Strollerderby — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:42:49 GMT

"Hipster." Itâ€™s a dirty word, these days. Especially when used to describe a parent. In fact, to some , the word â€œhipsterâ€ is synonymous with the word â€œdouche bag.â€ Originally, the term was coined in the 1940s, and used to refer to the jazz

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

papaganoose — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:56:33 GMT

i like your use of the phrase "parents are to be seen and not heard." I have commented to friends recently that whereas q century ago western culture suffered from a "children are to be seen and not heard" complex, American culture has since gone too far in the other direction, organizing parenthood almost exclusively around children. The protagonist of the modern American suburb is the child; almost all institutions are organized around the child and his/her physical and mental nourishment. It's clearly great to nourish children, but what of providing the children with parents who have a life that they would aspire to have themselves someday? Why should they want to become adults at all? If i work hard in school someday i will be able to spend my life isolated from others my age, deprived of cultural engagement, driving carpool.

I would like to give my children, in addition to everything else we parents want to give our children, an example of a fulfilled adult life. There is such a thing as having a culture that is too child obsessed, and American culture today is a case study of it. It is, in the end, a disservice to children. This kind of response to Babble and other thinking, engaged parents is a response to heresy in the church of the child obsessed. Let them hurl spitballs ... its about time we had a forum like this.

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

Maujer — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:59:52 GMT

I agree with Crunchy.

Also, I really like those matching outfits from the photo. Pity may daughter and I are too fat to wear them.

Okay, seriously though? There's nothing "alternative" about any of this. My friends who grew up in life center housing in the 70's? They might be able to talk about alternative. Someone being homeschool in a bunker in Montana? Same.

Buying a brownstone or a Hollywood bungalow and some Eames furniture to breastfeed on? Attending a homeschooling or AP meet up organized by your local message board because, although you're proud to live in a slum, you're too proud to school your children in one? Not. So. Much.

"Hipster" - A Dirty Word Now and Then. But Why?

Strollerderby — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:38:37 GMT

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

LushMommy — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:57:31 GMT

Check out this mofo's bio: http://www.time.com/time/columnist/poniewozik/article/0,9565,494009,00.html

(Here a list of the other articles he's written for Time: http://www.time.com/time/columnist/poniewozik; by the sound of the titles, he sounds like he also has a brainiac complex.)

This dude Poniewozik probably is suffering from a mid-life/identity crisis.

Judging by his bio and that he started being published in 1997 (on Salon.com), I would either place him as a baby boomer OR one of those on the cusp of boomdom and the Gen X era. Since he started writing on the web, I guess he's the latter, most likely starting out as some _wunderkind_, especially if he's been aired on NPR, the leftist equivalent of _60 Minutes_. Now he's too old to be considered cute or noticed literary-wise, AND he has two kids -- a veritable GEEZER.

Now he's coming down on the new breed of writers who have the means to self-publish. Like we're stepping on his old turf.

Just, say "fuck him" and ignore his old washed-up ass.

(Watch out, he might be trying to get his own _Eragon_ published.)

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

carfree childhood — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:02:26 GMT

I don't even think that we talk about it any more than previous generations. It is just that the talking happens online rather than at the kitchen table.

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

crunchy carpets — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 21:16:29 GMT

I don't think we are any better or worse parents than the last generation....we are just filled with more angst and self doubt about how it all fits into our little world and if we are doing a good enough job and so on.

And we talk about it.

All the time.

re: Shut Up & Parent: Why Time Magazine Hates Babble

GirlsGoneChild — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:14:44 GMT

Great post, CrankMama. Couldn't agree more.